The Atari Eiffel Pico USB has received new firmware, version v12.0.0, which can be downloaded here: Release Atari-st-rpikb v12.0.0
What's Changed
- Added Screen sleeps after a configurable time. Press any button to wake it.
- Added 8 levels of configurable brightness for the screen.
A new version of the user manual incorporating these changes is now available: Atari Eiffel Pico USB – User Manual.
Latest major firmware release
I reckon this firmware version will be the last for this generation of the Eiffel Pico USB. Since its release in June 2025, the following key features have been added to the Eiffel Pico USB:
- CPU speed selection: from 150Mhz (slight overclocking, the Raspberry Pi Pico usually runs at 133Mhz), up to 270Mhz,
- Interface language selection: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
- Adjustable dead zone for USB joysticks,
- Automatic adjustable Autofire for all joysticks.,
- USB Key Mapping,
- Adjustable screen Sleep and Brightness.
If other firmware versions are released, they will primarily be bug fixes, unless you make a feature suggestion that I incorporate into the Eiffel Pico USB.
Future projects involving the Eiffel Pico USB
However, the project doesn't stop there, as I plan to develop a more compact version of the Eiffel Pico USB, possibly based on the RP2350 version, which is more powerful than the current RP2040 version of the Raspberry Pi Pico, while keeping a reasonable price, as I strive to do for all items sold in this shop.
I also plan to offer a sort of internal version of the Eiffel Pico USB, which would replicate its main functionalities, to connect to the internal keyboard pin of the Atari ST or Falcon, allowing modern Bluetooth keyboards and mice to be connected.
So stay tuned for any new developments that might interest you. In the meantime, I wish you a lovely summer!
To update the firmware:
- Disconnect the USB flat cable from the Pico
- Connect the Pico to your computer while holding down the "BOOTSEL" button. The Pico should behave like a USB flash drive,
- Drag the atari_ikbd_v12.0.0.uf2 file into the Pico folder, it will install automatically.,
- Reconnect the flat USB cable to the Pico.